ENVIRONMENTAL ALERT: What You Need to Know About Your Air Conditioning

The Earth is rotating toward smarter, cleaner, and greener technology. And so is the law. By the year 2020, your old air conditioning and heating systems will be outdated. Since its creation, the R22 refrigerant has been wreaking havoc on the environment, not to mention your health. We are being called upon by the greener powers that be to update our air conditioning systems and rid ourselves and our planet of toxic chemicals. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set January 1, 2020 as the date when a ban on R-22 production takes effect.

Many homeowners are still unaware of the phase-out or are unclear about how it will affect them. Simply put, this ban can affect the cost of your repairs and the choices you’ll have to make about your system moving forward. Homeowners who have been periodically injecting new R22 into leaky systems will have fewer options come January, and will eventually be forced to replace their air conditioning unit due to the ban of R22 early next year. In the leadup to 2020, R22 can still be used in repairs and maintenance, but the supply of R22 is already shrinking. The closer it gets to 2020, the smaller the global supply of R22 will be. This will lead the cost of the refrigerant to soar—making once-routine repairs cost-prohibitive.

The ban doesn’t require you to replace a functioning AC or heat pump system. However, as the January 1, 2020 ban date approaches, GAC Services can help you evaluate your options. If your air conditioning or heat pump system has a refrigerant issue, for example, it’s highly likely you’ll need to replace it. Our expert technicians will walk you through your options and help you weigh the pros and cons.

IF YOUR SYSTEM IS USING R22, YOU HAVE A COUPLE OPTIONS:

DO NOTHING NOW AND MAINTAIN YOUR SYSTEM UNTIL THE INEVITABLE. If your unit breaks down because of a refrigerant issue after January 2020, chances are you’ll have to replace at that time. If you have a costly repair prior to 2020, you’ll need to decide if you want to replace your unit then or invest in what will likely be an exorbitant price for a repair. The most important thing you can do is to maintain your unit properly. Servicing minimizes potential environmental damage and maintenance costs. Consider our Prime Maintenance Membership Plan to help keep your system running as long as possible, the best we can.

REPLACE PROACTIVELY. The upfront cost can be a hurdle, especially if you’ve got multiple systems to replace before R22 is phased out. However, this can be the most cost-effective option in the long run. By replacing the units on your own schedule, you can take advantage of special pricing and financing offers that are available at different times of the year. When figuring out the cost of replacement, don’t forget that installing newer, more efficient systems can reduce your carbon footprint, offer big reductions in energy expenses, and allow you to take advantage of tax breaks for new efficient systems. Those savings can add up faster than you may think!

Consider replacing your unit if:

It’s already 10 years old or more.

You’ve experienced consistent cooling issues.

Your energy bills have started to increase.

You’re on a first-name basis with your AC repairman.

We want you to know that at GAC Services, we’re here to help you plan a course of action for replacement to spread out the costs and help you through this transition. Whether your plan is short-term, long-term, or somewhere in between, allow GAC Services to provide you the information you need to make the best decision. Let’s work together to reduce your carbon footprint.

Contact one of our comfort consultants to discuss in more detail. We would also be happy to offer a free estimate for a replacement system at your convenience for planning purposes. Just give us a call at 301-926-3253 or contact us online to get started!

If you are in need of immediate assistance, please call our office directly.

DELIVERING SERVICE

ABOVE AND BEYOND

“We had our annual air conditioner service and the gentlemen who came was amazing! He was wearing his mask the whole time and wore protective booties! He was professional and very pleasant! He did a great job with our system!…”

“I had a new furnace/air conditioning unit installed by GAC. This was a great experience from the proposal stage through the installation. The proposals were clearly explained and were within my budget. And Matt and his team did a great…”

“I had a new furnance/air conditioning unit installed by GAC. This was a great experience from the proposal stage through the installation. The proposals were clearly explained and were within my budget. And Matt and his team did a great…”

“2020: Our electrician Edwin Sanchez came and evaluated our needs for additional wiring for our kitchen and office during COVID-19. He and assistant John added 13 circuits and upgraded the circuit box. They practiced social distancing and wore masks.They added…”

“We have used GAC for our seasonal tune-ups for years. It was time for a new HVAC system (ours was close to 30 yrs old) and they were great. They gave us 3 levels of systems in the estimate. We…”

The information on this website is for informational purposes only; it is deemed accurate but not guaranteed. It does not constitute professional advice. All information is subject to change at any time without notice. Contact us for complete details.